Forgot to mention my system, horns are always here ( to big to move ) a small 10 watt class A single ended amp and at the moment a Trinnov room correction box which is my preamp I use a MacBook Pro as source.Keith.

Music taste is very wide, pretty much anything. I've a particular penchant for jazz, blues and folk (preferably acoustic) and much less rock than it used to be.

Far too much kit to list it all I'm afraid.

Currently in use is:Garrard 401 in Torlyte plinthRebuilt RB250 arm and upgraded Decca MaroonMusical Fidelity LPs Phono StageMusical Fidelity X-PreUCD Class D amps in DIY buildLowther EX4's and Eminence 15" Betas in a DIY Open BaffleCables are a mixture of Kimber and DIY solid silverAlso for convenience a Linux laptop running into a DAC Magic II.

I have a relatively brief history with Hi-Fi, only buying my own kit about 5 years ago when the hand-me-downs from Dad gave up the ghost. He had a pretty respectable system actually; an early memory for me is spending a day in Phase 3 Hi-Fi in Worthing while the owner re-arranged the whole shop & blasted the neighbours with Big Band jazz...

My music tastes are under-developed & limited, but I appreciate most things. Dad left me with a taste for stomping Big Bands of Basie's ilk - to this day my desert island disc is Sinatra & Basie live at the sands. I have a love for blues & most folky-type music, particularly bluegrass. At the moment I am going through a Lyle Lovett phase, as I love the way he tells a story with wit & charm. His records are musically superb also, with great production. I also remain a bit of a rock monster, and a lover of all things New Orleans.

My system gets little dedicated use at the moment due to a large young family, but the current state of play is as follows:

2009 MAC mini (fed by NAS over ethernet)

AyreWave

Beresford Caiman DAC with Gator (on borrowed time?) - DACs have been in flux for the past year.

NVA P90 passive pre

NVA TSS mkII stereo amplifier

Royd Revelation RR3 speakers

NVA supersoundpipe & LS5 cabling throughout

Belkin PF-40 mains thingy for everything but the amp.

My system plays music pretty nicely - that's all there is to it really. I hope it gives some of the best of both the flat & the round earth - I have heard examples of both genres that are one-trick ponies. I want it all...within reason. and budget.

I am very happy to have been invited by Ben to join this forum, and to see some friendly names here too. I'm a bit of a subjectivist, and like to think that I'm open-minded about anything audio. That's possibly why I have ended up with this somewhat eclectic system:

Mains stuff that some of you may have seen at the bake-off show includes a PS Audio Power Plant Premier and quite a lot of Vertex AQ mains leads.

Oh, and some Shun Mook Mpingo discs too! I also have an extensive collection of Bert Kaempfert LPs

I do like tinkering with vinyl, but I'm very keen to get a good sound out of the Zotac mini-PC and HiFace Evo, so it's good to see Uglymusic here, as he's ahead of me in computer audio. The Evo is brand new so needs bedding in, so I'm going to let it sit and run in for a few weeks before getting serious.

I am very happy to have been invited by Ben to join this forum, and to see some friendly names here too. I'm a bit of a subjectivist, and like to think that I'm open-minded about anything audio. That's possibly why I have ended up with this somewhat eclectic system:

Mains stuff that some of you may have seen at the bake-off show includes a PS Audio Power Plant Premier and quite a lot of Vertex AQ mains leads.

Oh, and some Shun Mook Mpingo discs too! I also have an extensive collection of Bert Kaempfert LPs

I do like tinkering with vinyl, but I'm very keen to get a good sound out of the Zotac mini-PC and HiFace Evo, so it's good to see Uglymusic here, as he's ahead of me in computer audio. The Evo is brand new so needs bedding in, so I'm going to let it sit and run in for a few weeks before getting serious.

I listen to all sorts of music in particular good female vocals with decent recordings, also likes a lot of the 80's stuff.

Just got rid of my beloved CD player and moving towards digital streaming route as soon as the new dac arrive.

Have had 30 plus pairs of speakers over the last three four years due to a very understanding wife.

I now realised this is a very subjective hobby and still believe there is a type of system's sound that would please 75% of audophiles out there. The warmish sound that I was familiar with in the 80's.

My real name's Richard, and I've been a hifi nut/bodger/wrecker/geek since I was about 5 years old when my dad got his first system. I got my own rig in about 1978 consisting of hand-me-downs from the old man. I've been a professional clarinettist for the last 27 years and do a bit of teaching now and again...plus I'm a reasonably incompetent pianist and conductor.

My current system is...

Turntables:

Thorens TD150 Mk1/SME 3009 (non-imp)Rega P7

Cartridges:

Stilton P77 (in need of a re-tip)Audio Note IQ3Grado Prestige Black 1

Amplifier:

Inca Tech Claymore

Digital stuff:

Pioneer DV-444 DVD player as a transportSqueezebox 3MacBook running USB out into...CA DacMagic

Speakers:

Royd Merlins

The rig's somewhat in a state of flux - I totally upset its balance about 9 months ago and whilst the digital side of things is going well, I really need to get my *rse in gear and sort the turntable. Bottom line is a miss direct drive....next year's going to be fun, I hope.

Welcome on board. I was quite keen to try out the Inca amp myself and never had a chance to listen to them before, so what are they like? What amps did you tried before you settle on the Inca? I know they were designed to better the Nait at the time.

MacNugget - the Claymore's a little bit of a find to be honest. I can remember a certain Mr Frankland going ga-ga over it many years ago in that erstwhile publication 'The Flat Response' and whilst always taking his (very narrow minded) view of the hifi world with a pinch of salt, I often wondered how good this amp would be.

I've owned a fair few Farlow-era Exposure amps and a few Naims over the years, and to own another amp from the mid-80's school of the British Black Box would be a bit of fun. I haven't regretted buying it - it's got a reasonable amount of power (50w/ch) and can summon a fair head of steam. It hasn't got the grip or control of my previous set up (Exposure XXIRC/Super XVIII monos) but it's sweeter, quite lyrical but with excellent bass - full, but with good pitch definition; a very important factor for me. For 200 quid (and this one's in nigh on mint condition) it's been a very good buy.

MacNugget - the Claymore's a little bit of a find to be honest. I can remember a certain Mr Frankland going ga-ga over it many years ago in that erstwhile publication 'The Flat Response' and whilst always taking his (very narrow minded) view of the hifi world with a pinch of salt, I often wondered how good this amp would be.

I've owned a fair few Farlow-era Exposure amps and a few Naims over the years, and to own another amp from the mid-80's school of the British Black Box would be a bit of fun. I haven't regretted buying it - it's got a reasonable amount of power (50w/ch) and can summon a fair head of steam. It hasn't got the grip or control of my previous set up (Exposure XXIRC/Super XVIII monos) but it's sweeter, quite lyrical but with excellent bass - full, but with good pitch definition; a very important factor for me. For 200 quid (and this one's in nigh on mint condition) it's been a very good buy.

Hi Gromit

The Inca is the one in my wanted list at the moment along side with Lentek Integrated, Exposure X, NVA Integrated and pre power combo, Naim 72/140.